By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — July 5, 2005 – The L&B Tack softball team overcame an early five-run deficit to record a victory over Dutch’s Tavern last Thursday night in a Sullivan County Women’s Softball League (SCWSL) “A” Division game at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park.
A two-run single by L&B Tack’s Barb Merton in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the game-winning hit. Merton then crossed home plate on a single by Mary Hall for the final run of L&B Tack’s 13-11 win.
In the top of the seventh, Merton, who was also the winning pitcher, gave up a leadoff single to Dutch’s Theresa Murdock. But Merton then got the next three batters to fly out to preserve her team’s two-run victory.
With the win, L&B Tack improved its season record to 4-7. Dutch’s Tavern is now 4-6 on the year.
Down by a 7-2 score entering the bottom of the third, L&B Tack scored four times in the frame. With one out and two runners on base, Lacy Dalrymple and Denice Smith hit back-to-back RBI singles to pull their team to within three runs. Two batters later, Julie Potosek ripped a two-run single to left field to make it a 7-6 contest.
Dutch’s answered with one run in the top of the fourth. With one out and runners on the corners, Lisa Benjamin hit a fly ball to center field. The ball was caught, but it was deep enough for the runner on third base, Amy Brudermann, to tag up and score.
L&B scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead. Merton’s single to center field brought Jamie Hopkins around to score and Robin DeMarmels’ single allowed April Aldrich to cross home plate with the tying run.
RBI singles by Mary Hall and Denice Smith then gave L&B a 10-8 lead.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Dutch’s scored four runs in the top of the sixth. A one-out single by Kim Bradley brought Brudermann around to score. Bradley then scored the game-tying run on a single by Benjamin. Two batters later, Benjamin gave Dutch’s an 11-10 lead when she scored as Kathy Jo Hoyt beat out a throw to first base on a potential inning-ending double play.
L&B then scored twice in the bottom of the frame to record the win.
Cooper Paint
Stays Undefeated
In the second game of the night at Collins Park, Cooper Paint extended its season unbeaten streak to 13 games with a lopsided 35-5 victory over New Hope. The game was halted after the bottom of the fifth inning due to the SCWSL’s 15-run mercy rule.
New Hope grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Lori Kimmes and Tammy Sondermeyer each had an RBI single in the frame.
Cooper Paint tied the score with a pair of runs in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Jennifer Wright hit a bloop singled to center field that allowed Ally McCarthy and Lori Brown to cross home plate.
In the top of the third, Cooper Paint grabbed a 5-2 advantage. Amanda Irwin hit a sacrifice fly and McCarthy and Brown added an RBI single and RBI triple, respectively.
New Hope answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out and two teammates on base, Kimmes smashed a single to left field. Allison Whipple and Maureen Johnson scored on the hit, cutting the Cooper Paint advantage to 5-4.
However, Cooper Paint responded in a big way in the top of the fourth. The team went through its batting lineup nearly three times as it scored 25 runs in the frame. Amanda Cox had five RBIs in the inning as she hit a three-run, inside-the-park home run and a two-run triple. Leyna Madison also recorded a three-run, inside-the-park home run and Amanda Irwin blasted a grand-slam homer over the fence in left center field.
Cooper Paint added five runs in the top of the fifth to take a 35-4 lead.
New Hope scored the final run of the contest when Kelly Cicero scored on a triple by Whipple in the bottom of the fifth.
Cooper Paint is now 13-0 on the season, while New Hope has a record of 5-6.